[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Valatie 10-10-2017 by L.L. No. 6-2017. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
INTELLIGENT SMOKE DETECTORS
Use advanced communications protocols to ensure accuracy and stability. Each intelligent smoke detector can be given a distinct address that allows for its location to be determined within a wiring loop upon activation. These locations are reported to a fire alarm control panel (FACP). Sophisticated software provides false alarm reduction and automatically monitors detector sensitivity.
NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
Provides the latest safety provisions to meet changing fire detection, signaling, and emergency communications demands. In addition to the core focus on fire alarm systems, the code includes requirements for mass notification systems used for weather emergencies; terrorist events; biological, chemical, and nuclear emergencies; and other threats.
NFPA 72 SECTION 1.4.1
Unless noted otherwise, it is not intended that the provisions of this document (NFPA 72) be applied to facilities, equipment, structures or installations that were existing or approved for construction prior to the effective date of this document (August 29, 2012).
NFPA 72 SECTION 1.4.2
In those cases where it is determined by the authority having jurisdiction that the existing situation involves a distinct hazard to life or property, retroactive application of the provisions of this document (NFPA 72) shall be permitted.
NICET CERTIFICATION, NICET III
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies. The minimum required, Level II, plus three additional years (for a total of five years) of fire detection and signaling systems experience, which must include: at least 33 months of fire alarm systems experience, including installation, maintenance, inspection, testing, commissioning, technical system estimating and sales, plan preparation, code compliance review, project management, and/or technical business management. The three years must include field experience, team leadership, and at least one year in a fire alarm systems technical management role.
A. 
Fire alarm systems/smoke and heat detection devices shall be installed in accordance with the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code of New York State.
B. 
All fire systems and components shall be labeled by a recognized national testing laboratory.
C. 
All multiple-family dwellings shall have smoke detectors as follows:
(1) 
Smoke detectors shall be intelligent, addressable, and be part of the primary system. (See § 75-1, Definitions.)
(2) 
One smoke detector for each common hallway and/or corridor, spacing to meet or exceed NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm Code § 72, a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association).
(3) 
In storage areas exceeding 50 square feet, a minimum of one smoke detector and as many as may be necessary to be consistent with the manufacturer's specifications and recommended area of coverage.
(4) 
Smoke detectors shall be connected to a fire alarm control panel (FACP) that is listed by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), or any other nationally recognized testing agency, and approved by the Town of Livingston Code Enforcement Officer.
(5) 
Heat detectors shall be installed in boiler rooms, based on spacing requirements of NFPA 72.
D. 
Systems reporting to an alarm monitoring system shall differentiate between fire and any other alarm. A system trouble alert shall not report as a fire alarm.
E. 
All detectors, except for single-station smoke detectors, shall have an obvious means to determine when the device has activated and will stay locked in until manually reset.
F. 
All existing systems, existing or approved for construction prior to August 29, 2012 (see § 75-1, Definitions, NFPA 1.4.1 and 1.4.2), shall not be required to conform with this chapter and be registered with the Village of Valatie, Columbia County Sheriff in accordance with NFPA 72.
G. 
Upgrades and/or modifications to existing systems shall cause the entire system to conform to this chapter.
H. 
The owner shall be required to inform the Village within 30 days, whenever there is a change in the fire alarm business responsible for maintaining, servicing, and/or monitoring the fire alarm system. The owner shall provide the Village with the name and contact data of the new fire alarm business.
I. 
Registrations shall not be transferable from one premises to another or from one owner to another.
J. 
Every fire alarm business shall notify the Village of Valatie of the existence of a fire alarm system prior to the fire alarm system being put into operation. It shall be the responsibility of the installing fire alarm business to provide the owner with a a registration form and a copy of the fire alarm system operation instructions in accordance with NFPA 72 and the manufacturer's instructions.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
All proposed installation designs shall be submitted to the Village of Valatie Code Enforcement Official for review prior to installation. An application for a permit under this chapter shall be filed with the Village of Valatie Code Enforcement Official on forms supplied by the Village, together with an application fee in an amount as established by resolution of the Board of Trustees made payable to the Village Clerk. Said application shall set forth the following:
A. 
Name, address and telephone number of both the installer of the system and the landowner on whose premises the system will be operated, maintained, monitored or installed.
B. 
The location (physical address and 911 address), directions from main road and where on the premises the alarm system is proposed to be installed, or the existing location if a system has already been installed prior to the effective date of this chapter, shall be provided.
C. 
The type of emergency that the alarm system is designed to detect.
D. 
The name, address and telephone number of at least three persons who are key holders to the building in which the system is located.
E. 
The applicant shall agree that if the person to be notified either refuses to come to the premises upon request of the local fire department or police, or if the person cannot be reached within a reasonable time by telephone or otherwise, the local fire department or police may contact the installer to disconnect the system, without any liability for any charges as a result of disconnection, or any liability as a result of responding to alarms. The applicant will be notified of the disconnection by registered mail.
F. 
A copy of the installer's license to work in New York shall accompany the application.
G. 
Prior to issuance of a building permit where the builder or owner is installing a fire alarm system, he/she shall submit three sets of proposed plans to the Village of Valatie Code Enforcement Official depicting the fire alarm system. Said plans shall be prepared by a New York State licensed design professional (engineer, architect, NICET III or higher, or fire protection engineer).
A. 
All fire alarm system work shall be performed by a fire alarm company licensed in New York State. A copy of said license shall accompany the installation design application.
B. 
Maintenance must be performed annually by a certified New York State fire alarm company. Maintenance records shall be maintained by the owner and shall be provided to the Code Enforcement Official within 10 days of maintenance. Failure to supply the maintenance records may result in a violations and penalties as listed herein.
C. 
Alarm system components installed in areas of abnormal conditions shall be installed and maintained so as to prevent false or nuisance alarms. Abnormal conditions shall include, but not be limited to, dust, steam, aerosol spray use, insects and pollen.
D. 
Detection devices installed so as not to be readily visible, such as above ceilings, in crawl spaces and closets, shall have a remote indicator installed so as to be readily visible and labeled as to device location.
E. 
Alarm panels shall be installed in a location that is readily visible/accessible to the responding fire department or shall have a remote enunciator panel installed to be readily visible to facilitate zone identification.
F. 
Multiple zone systems shall have each zone identified as to location within the building.
G. 
Commercial buildings and multiple-family dwellings shall be zoned to facilitate ease of location of active devices.
A. 
Alarm systems shall be tested in the presence of the Code Enforcement Official, applicable Fire Chief or representative, and the system installer prior to being placed into service.
B. 
It shall be the responsibility of the fire alarm installer to register the alarm with Columbia County Sheriff's Department and the Village of Valatie and provide all information required by those agencies.
C. 
When registering, the fire alarm system installer shall represent, in writing, that all systems and components are suitable for area of detection.
The Columbia County Fire Coordinator's office, the Valatie Code Enforcement Official and Valatie Fire Company shall be supplied with a list of appropriate contacts for entrance at the time of or prior to the system being put into service. Contacts shall include, but not be limited to: building owner or representative, alternate(s) in the event owner or representative is unavailable, and the alarm system maintenance contact. The representative or an alarm maintenance contact must be able to respond and arrive within a reasonable amount of time, said time not to exceed 15 minutes after receipt of a phone call regarding the system. The property owner has to notify the Fire Chief and Code Enforcement Official once a year, in writing, of the names and phone numbers of the key holders to the premises in which the system is located. There must be at least three key holders.
A. 
All false alarms shall be subject to charges as set forth herein. Any notices of violation shall be issued by the Valatie Code Enforcement Official.
B. 
A false alarm due to an unintentional activation or system malfunction in a one-year period shall result in the following charges:
(1) 
First offense: warning
(2) 
Second offense: $100.
(3) 
Third offense: $250.
(4) 
Fourth or more offenses: $500 for each offense.
C. 
False alarms due to malicious/mischievous activation in a one-year time period shall result in the following charges:
(1) 
First offense: $500.
(2) 
Second offense: $1,000 for each offense.
D. 
False alarms attributed to faulty equipment or failure to maintain in accordance with this chapter may cause the owner to be assessed the expense incurred by the fire company responding to such alarm. An order to remedy may be issued by the Code Enforcement Official.
E. 
"False alarms and/or nuisance calls" shall be defined as the activation of a fire alarm caused by defective or improperly maintained equipment for the purpose of summoning the Fire Department at a time when no fire or emergency is occurring.
F. 
False alarms attributed to faulty equipment or lack of maintenance shall be repaired within 30 days of the false alarm, otherwise the system, or faulty portion thereof, shall be removed from service until the fault is corrected. Documentation of the repair(s) shall be submitted to the Code Enforcement Official.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 33-6G, regarding a fine for failure to maintain alarms, of the 1980 Code, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
G. 
In the event an alarm system installed after the date of this chapter is not registered in accordance with this chapter, the owner of the real property on which the alarm is located shall be subject to a violation with a fine of $250 for each and every week such alarm is unregistered.
H. 
Where six false or nuisance alarms have occurred within a one-year period and/or where an applicant does not reasonably comply with any provision of this chapter, the Village of Valatie shall suspend or revoke an alarm permit.
I. 
Any applicant whose application for a permit has been denied, and any person whose permit has been suspended or revoked, may appeal such denial, suspension or revocation in writing to the Village Board of the Village of Valatie within 30 days after such denial, suspension or revocation. The Village Board shall allow the applicant to speak in support of his/her contention that the permit should not have been denied, suspended or revoke. The decision of the Village Board shall be final.
J. 
Any reactivation of a revoked or suspended alarm permit will be subject to an administrative fee payable to the Village of Valatie in the amount of $100.
K. 
All installation, connection, maintenance and monitoring fees shall be at the expense of the owner/occupant.
L. 
All information on applications pertaining to false alarms shall not be deemed confidential insofar as it is necessary to conduct any litigation under this chapter or to be provided to appropriate officials for fire protection purposes.
M. 
Any charges not paid within 30 days shall become a lien upon the real property, superior to any other lien or claim, except the lien of an existing tax assessment or charge imposed by the Village of Valatie.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall relieve the alarm system owner's or installer's obligation to obtain any permits, licenses, inspections or approvals as may be required by any other state, county or other applicable local authority, rule, regulation or law.
Any prior local law currently inexistence which is inconsistent with the terms of this chapter is hereby repealed.